Aspen groves & fungi friends threatened by climate change

Can fungi help our gut woes?

Over 40% of the world’s population has some form of a gastrointestinal disorder, but it’s still hard to find effective treatments. Holistic practitioners often turn patients to medicinal mushrooms like chaga, lion’s mane, and turkey tail, and in the last ten years, more clinical research applying medicinal mushrooms to GI disorders has been published.

Recently, researchers in Romania conducted an in-depth literature review on the topic of medicinal mushrooms and gastric conditions. Such reviews are crucial for emerging fields, sifting through numerous studies to identify key trends and guide research funding and efforts. This review refined its focus from 61 to 7 studies that specifically explored the relationship between medicinal mushrooms and gastric conditions.

• 😁 All sevens studies showed positive effects of mushrooms on GI disorders. The catch is that the seven studies focused on animals, not humans. This isn’t uncommon in the world of medicine as clinical research, especially, is at the hands of time.

• 🛡️ Medicinal mushrooms have high levels of gastroprotective effects due to their bioactive compounds like polysachharides and beta-glucans, which, in turn, create high levels of anxtioxidants that bolster and regulate our digestive tract.

• 📈 Higher doses of mushroom extracts led to significant improvements in gastric ulcers. This suggests that dosage is important for achieving the best therapeutic outcomes, something for future studies to explore in research on human subjects.

👉️ Read more.

Aspens and fungi friends threatened

In the shadow of climate change, North America’s aspen groves and their crucial fungal allies face a precarious future. A recent Stanford University study illuminates just how precarious by simulating extreme weather and drought conditions to observe how the fungal diversity could be altered. Researchers particularly focused on the balance between mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi.

Mycorrhizal fungi have symbiotic relationships with plant, and support forest growth and health by helping with nutrient and water absorption. Pathogenic fungi, on the other hand, can harm plants, and an overabundance of them can lead to diseases and weaken the forest. In the case of aspen trees, mycorrhizal fungi wrap around the tree's roots and form a protective sheath that also acts as a barrier against pathogens. In return, the fungi receive vital carbohydrates from the tree.

• 🌡️ Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns are disrupting the balance of fungi in the soil, tipping it toward high numbers of pathogenic fungi.

• 🪦 Mycorrhizal fungi are vital to the health and continuation of aspen groves in North America, making survival unlikely should the balance tip too far in the direction of pathogenic fungi.

• 🌲 The rapid shifts in weather patterns will lead to reduced fungal diversity and a weakened ecosystem. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation strategies for not just aspen groves, but North American forests at large.

👉️ Read more.

Around the web

• 🤞 MAPS Public Benefit Corporation announced that new AMA CPT III codes for psychedelic-assisted therapies introduced in July 2023 are now effective. The company submitted an NDA to the FDA for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, seeking to establish a coverage path for this treatment and if approved, MDMA could be rescheduled by the DEA for prescription use.

• 🇺🇸 Wondering where the 2024 candidates stand on psychedelic reform? DoubleBlind Mag and Marijuana Moment put together a guide on how psychedelics have been discussed on the campaign trail.

• 🫖 Chaga tea is trending on TikTok, and beingmisty is one of our favorite resources for recipe tips and tricks. She covers fungi and other herbs, and has her own shop here.

☕️ Citrumello Exilir

Instead of an artist this week, here’s the trusty elixir that I’m always called to in January. It’s an anytime drink.

• 🥄 1 teaspoon Sacred 7 Mushroom Extract Powder 

• 🚰 1 cup of hot water

• 🍋 Juice of one lemon

• 🍯 1 tablespoon honey (or to taste)

• 🔥 A pinch of cinnamon (or cinnamon sugar if it’s been one of those days)

• 💛 A small slice of fresh ginger

1. Heat the water until it's just below boiling. Pour it into a mug.

2. Stir or froth in the Sacred 7 Mushroom Extract Powder until fully dissolved.

3. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Add the ginger slice. Let it steep for about 2-3 minutes. The lemon is for tang and the ginger is for warmth.

4. Stir in the honey to your level of sweetness. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon for a comforting touch.